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Thai Airways used to offer nonstop flights between Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) to both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK). I can vividly remember flying the Los Angeles route before it was discontinued back in 2013. It then flew to the United States through Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) before stopping these flights in October 2015. Now, it looks like Thai might be returning to the United States for the first time in nearly a decade.
The airline cancelled its US flights because they were losing money. The routes were served with Airbus A340-500 aircraft and fuel efficiency and passenger loads definitely played their parts. In late 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also downgraded Thai Airways from a Category 1 to a Category 2 safety rating. This meant that Thai was no longer allowed to operate flights to the United States. This happens from time to time and Mexico only recently got its rating back to a Category 1 (more here).
Thailand now expects to regain its Category 1 safety rating by February 2025. That means that it would be allowed to return to service in the United States. Lucky at One Mile at a Time shared that The Bangkok Post first broke this news. I have to wonder when United Airlines will add flights to Thailand since it’s by far the most creative with its route map. Thai Airways could fly the Los Angeles route with one its Boeing 787-9 aircraft (it has 45 more on order from Boeing).
Thailand is a popular spot with tourists and personally I’m itching to go back. The White Lotus has season three staged in Koh Samui and if history repeats itself, tourists will be flocking to Thailand like they did with Taormina in Sicily after season two.
Anthony’s Take: I hope that Thailand and the United States are once again connected by nonstop flights. It’s a beautiful country with gracious people and incredible food. Here’s hoping this becomes reality soon.
(Image Credits: Thai Airways and Four Seasons.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
1 comment
I flew that back in 2012. Longest flight I have ever been on 17 hours. Service was excellent with 3 meals but I have my doubts about it returning based on possible high fares and Korean Air giving it a run for it’s money